Safety apparatus



June 2, v1942. o. E. zoDER 2,284,709

SAFETY APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 1 June 2, 1942. o. E.' 20m-:R 2,284,709

SAFETY APPARATUS 33 3l z/ :17 Flo. 3K2

IFR

y m l "km sag 32 Patented June 2, 1942 SAFETY APPARATUS Orren E. Zoder, St. Louis, Mo., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Zoder, Incorporated, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri VApplication May 25, 1940, Serial No. 337,182

(Cl. 12S- 136) 18 Claims.

This invention relates to safety apparatus, and with regard to certain more specific features to safety apparatus for transferring hazardous fluids, such as inflammables.

The invention is an improvement upon the invention disclosed in my United States patent application Serial No. 320,015, filed February 2l, 1940, for Safety apparatus, issued Aug. 20, 1940 as Patent No. 2,212,486.

Among the several objects of theY invention may be noted the provision of reliable liquid transferring and shut-off apparatus which is antisyphoning and which will avoid abnormal emptying action under syphon conditions from a tank through a pump or carbureter or the like or through broken or loose lines; the provision of apparatus of the class described which makes use of a Valve system which cannot be made inoperative by dirt on the valve seat; the provision of apparatus of the class described which may be used without shielding screens or the like; and the provision of apparatus of this class which is adjustable from the exterior but which is packless. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and Athe scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are illustrated three of various 4possible embodiments of the invention l Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken through one form of the apparatus, the parts being shown in anti-syphoning positions;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing the parts in suction positions;

line 2 2 supply of ordinary impurity. Furthermore, the screens therein shown prevent dirt from becoming located on the valve seat, which location would permit syphoning action. However, with excessively dirty liquid supplies, the screen in performing its `function of protecting the valve seat against entry of dirt may gather so much impurity that the rate of liquid passage is seriously reduced. A typical example would be met with in the application of the device to gasoline supply tanks on river vessels where sometimes as much as several inchesv of free sludge may be i found in tank bottoms.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionv through an alterna- Serial No. 320,015 is effective for use with a fluid time that the engine E is inoperative.

The present invention overcomes the above filter altogether unnecessary. This eliminates `the clogging problem. Safety is maintained by arranging the valve structure so that no clogging of the seat can occur.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. l and 7, there is shown at A the transfer apparatus which is the subject ci the invention. This is connected by means of pipe I5 with a tank T and by means of a. pipe I'I with a pump P. The pump P is operated from the engine E which is being supplied with fluid (gasoline from the tank T). The pump P serves the carbureter C. At M is shown the suction intake manifold of the engine which in the alternative construction described in connection with Fig. 4 has a suction connection with A via pipe 19. Pipe 'i9 is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, because it is used onlyv with said Fig. 4 alternative, as will appear.

As shown in Fig. 7, the tank T carries a liquid level which usually is higher than the `pump P and carbureter C. This condition quite often occurs in certain installations such as in boats. It can be seen that, if a direct connection were made from the tank T to the pump P, there would be Idanger of a tank-emptying syphoning action, should leakage occur through the pump P and out of a leaky carbureter valve during the Heretofore this has sometimes led to the emptying of dangerous amounts of iluid from supply tanks with resultant fire hazard. The insertion of the device `A eliminates this hazard.

At numeral I is shown the casing of casing -hasan inner cylindric portion 3 which is in communication with an enlarged counterbore 5. The body I is enclosed at the bottom by a cap 'I and at thetop by a cap 9. rIhe latter carries a plug Il with a bleeder air inlet I3. Attached to the cylinder 3 is the pipe connection I5 leading down to the supply tank T. Com- A. This y municating with the counterbore 5 is the connection l1 which leads down to the suction pump P of the engine E which is being served by the apparatus. The device A is at the highest point in the liquid line between the tank T and the pump P, for reasons which will appear.

In the cap 1 is an adjustable abutment which is in the form of a cylinder |9 threaded into the inside of gland 2| (see also Fig. 6). The gland 2| is exteriorly threaded as at 23 into the threaded interior of the cap 1. The threaded opening in the cap 1 is chamfered at the bottom as shown at to be engaged by the lower tapered portion 21 of the gland 2|. Thus by screwing down the gland 2|, the tapered portion 21 moves into the chamfer 25. This squeezes the lower edge of the taper 21 against the cylinder I9 so as to seal and lock it in a given adjusted position. The t between I9 and the interior of 2| is close enough for. the desire-d sealing effect. To adjust the abutment I9, the gland 2| is backed oi slightly so as to remove the compressive effect above referred to, whereupon the abutment |9 may be threaded in or out to effect any desired adjustment. The threads 23 and 33 preferably have substantially the same lead so that after adjustment at I9 the tightening of 2| will not substantially change the adjustment. A screw-driver slot 29 serves as the means by which the adjustment may be made of the abutment in the gland 2i. This adjustable abutment it will be seen has no packing and this is considered to be novel.

To render a given adjustment tamper-proof, a wire 3| may be passed through openings 39 and this wire carries a seal 32.

The upper end of the adjustable abutment |9 serves as a backing for a socket forming a seat for a valve-closing spring 31. The other end of the spring presses upon the end of a piston valve 39, the latter being slidable with a sealing fit in cylinder 3. The clearance between the cylinder valve 39 and the cylinder 3 is of an order to prevent any substantial leakage of fluid past the piston valve. It will be understood that a lap fit may be employed, or piston rings if desirable, to obtain any degree of protection against leakage which may be desired.

The piston valve 39 is hollow as shown at 4| for accommodating fluid flow. A slot 43 communicates from the outer surface of the piston to the passage 4|. The slot 43 is sealed when the piston 39 is in the cylinder 3, but when the piston'is moved so that its upper end extends into the counterbore 5, as shown in Fig. 3, then the slot 43 serves to provide communication between the cylinder 3 and the connection l1. This occurs under suction conditions in the connection |1 (due to the action of the pump therein) sufficient to overcome the force of the spring 31 (see Fig. 3).

The upper cap 9 includes a Valve seat 45 for a valve head 41 on a triangular stem 49. The stem passes through a circular passage 5| at the end of seat 45, .but the stern 49 being triangular permits air flow when the valve head 41 is open, as shown in Fig. 1. The head 41 is pressed open by a spacing pillar 53 which extends from the triangular shank 49 to the inner end of the passage 4|. Thus in the absence of suction in the pump connection |1, the spring 31 presses open the valve (as shown in Fig. 1) while closing the valve 39. The pillar 53 is maintained in contact with .the inner end of the passage 4| by a spring 55 which is weaker than the spring 31. This spring reacts from a shoulder at 5| against a washer 51 held by means of a cotter key 59. Other fluid-passing forms may be used for the triangular shank 49.

Operation is as follows:

When the engine is inoperative, its gasoline pump is inoperative, and therefore there is no suction in the connection |1. Hence, there is no vacuum beneath the piston 39, and the spring 31 pushes the piston up to a position where the slot 43 is sealed, and in which the pillar 53 is raised so as to open the valve head 4l'. This admits air over the air bleeder i3, underneath the head 41, past the triangular stem 49 and to a point above the piston 39. The gravity head in the line l5 will then return the fluid line l5 back into the supply tank.

Assuming that the engine E is now operated, the pump P will effect a vacuum in the connection |1. The adjustment of the spring 31 is such that a normal vacuum thus engendered will draw down the piston valve 39 to cause the slot 43 to be exposed to the connection I1. When the piston valve 39 opens, the valve 41 closes, and thus there is established a direct connection between |1 and l5 so that liquid is withdrawn from the tank and passes to l1 and thence to pump P. As soon as the pump ceases operation, the state of affairs above described and shown in Fig. 1 again inheres.

From the above it will be seen that, whether or not leaks occur in the pump and carbureter, the liquid head in connection l5 assures return of liquid to the Ytank instead of leakage by syphon action over the line |1. That is to say, the syphon is broken. This occurs whether or not the iit between the piston 39 and the cylinder 33 is good or poor.

On the other hand, the liquid head in the connection I1, when the pump is inoperative and there is leakage, is ineffective to cause emptying of the connection I1 as long as there is a proper t between` the piston 39 and the cylinder 3. Should it occur after wear or due to a poor fit of the piston 39 that air would leak in from the bleeder i 3 past the piston 39 to let down the liquid head in the connection l1, the damage would be inconsequential, because the amount of liquid in the line |1 between the body and the pump is ordinarily negligible. At any rate, only that amount would leak, and it would still be impossible to cause a continuous syphoning from the supply tank. It is this continuous syphoning action that has been dangerous heretofore in the case of leaky pumps and carbureters, or broken or leaky lines.

Any required adjustment of spring 31 can be made by adjusting the stop I9 by use of a screw driver in the slot 29, after loosening of the gland 2|. It will be seen that the clinching action at 21 around |9 after tightening of the gland is such as slightly to deform the metal of the gland into gripping relationship with the cylinder 9. This is enough to prevent leakage without the necessity for soft packing material.

Referring to Fig. 4, there is shownV another form of the invention in which a body 56 is provided with a cap 58 which, in connection with bolts 6|, holds a exible and impervious diaphragm 63. Above the diaphragm 63 is a compression spring which normally presses the diaphragm downward. At the center of the diaphragm is a connection 51 with the upper end of a polygonal valve stem 99. passes through a circular bearing, thus allowing Polygonal stem 69 space therebetween for passage of air. At the lower end of the'stem 69 is a valve head 1I which seats upon a valve seat 13. The valve 1I, 13 is in a lateral passage associated with a through passage 11, which communicates between connections I5 and I1. The former leads to the supply tank at the lower elevation and the latter to the pump at the lower elevation. A connection 19 above the diaphragm B3 leads to the intake suction manifold of the engine which operates the pump connected to I1. This is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7. Below the diaphragm 63 is van atmospheric connection 8|.

As to the second form of the invention (Figil), operation is as follows:

When the engine which drives the pump is started, the reduced pressure in the suction manifold M is communicated through 19 to a `point above the diaphragm 63, thus raising said diaphragm against the compression of spring 65. This closes the va1ve`1l and the pum-p is then enabled to draw liquid over the connections I5 and I1 vial the communication 11. As soon as the engine stops operation, the vacuum is broken in. its intake manifold and also above the diaphragm 63. Thus the spring 65 fdepresses the diaphragm and causes opening of the valve 1I,

13. At this time the pump has ceased operation and the result is a bleeding of air in' through the passage 8l and aroundthe valve stem B9 and through the valve 1I, 13 so that the syphon is broken and the head of liquid in the line I 5 drops back into the supply tank. The head of liquid in the connection I1 may be maintained in the connection, provided the pump and associated carbureter :are in good condition, or it may run out in the case of leaks, but the amount of liquid in the connection I1 is negligible, so far as is concerned the question of safety.

, In Fig. 5 is shown a third form of the inven- Ifany dirt gets under the seatV ofthe valve 42,

it is of slight consequence, because the liquid inv line I5 returns to the tank .anyway and the other functionsof the Valve 42 are not substantiallythe highgpoint in respect to a two-legged syphon connection between the liquid tank and the pump.

Under the worst conditions of operation, only a very small amount of il-uid can leak out, and in any event there is never, in the case of a defective pump and carbureter, any possibility of syphoning'out from the tank supply.

The piston valve 39 of course is not subjected to clogging by any ydirt particles, because there is no seat upon which the particles can rest to prevent valve closure at the slot43.

The seat of valve 41 is not subjected to substantial liquid flow or clogging by dirt particles, but even if it should be clogged, the worst that could happen would be for the vacuum yto be broken permanently in the line I1, so that upon starting of theV engine liquid could not be supplied to the carbureter. In this case, the operator would have knowledge of something being wrong, and such a condition is preferential to one in which a syphoning action could take place while the operator is absent. The latter event Y could not occur with the present construction.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5,

, the spring 31 should be stronger than'the spring tion which consists of a combination of the forms of Figs. 1 and 4, with some modifications. Like numerals designate like parts. In this case the vacuum above the diaphragm 63 is obtained not from the intake manifold,v as in the Fig. 4 `con-V 65, or at least designed s0 that the air valve 1I will surely close before the fuel valve 42 opens. The adjustments shown provide for this in various applications'to various heads. The large area of the diaphragm 63, which is exposed to suction pressure as compared to the small area of the piston 39, aids in accomplishing this end.

` This assures also that, when the tank in con- Upon starting the engine, the pump evacuates V the connection I1 `and thus produces a vacuum abovethe diaphragm 53 (through passage 83) and at the same time draws open the valve head 42, so as to open the connection with the inlet I5 from the supply tank. Thus, while the connection is open and fluid is flowing from I5 to I1,

,the air bleeder valve 1I is drawn shut by the pump working against the action of the compression spring 65. As soon as the pump'stops, the vacuumV in the line I1 is broken, whereupon the spring 65 pushes down the diaphragm 63 to nection with I5 is empty, and only air is being pumped by the gasoline pump, the air valve 1I will positively be shut so that the pump can thereafter prime. v Y

The purpose of having all forms of the invention adjustable is so that the variable heads of liquid which are encountered in practice can be accommodated. This is because it is necessary to have the spring, such as 31 for example in Figs. 1 and 5, adjusted so that the liquid head in line I1 is not enough to draw open'the piston valve 39 under the condition when the pump has stopped, but additional suction head from the pump, should draw this valve open.

The spring 31 must be adjusted sov that it will hold the Valve 39 shut against suction from any mere liquid head in the line I1, when the engine is stationary. This liquid` head in lin-e I1 must not pull open the valve 39, but the sum of this head plus the vacuum head of pump P must do so. The spring 65`in Fig. 5 must likewise be adjusted to hold open valve 1I under mere liquid suction head in line I1, but to permit closing of the valve under liquid head plus pump suction head in line I1.

The piston valve 39 of Figs. 1-3 and the diaphragms Y(i3 of Figs. 4 and 5 are equivalent in the sense that they present anarea which, if suction is presented to one side, effects or permits closure of the air relief valve (4l in Figs. 1-3 and 1I in Figs. 4 and 5). The difference is simply that the diaphragm in Figs. 1-3 consists of a movable piston and in Figs. 4 and 5 consists of a flexible member. There isV also a form of diaphragm which responds by substantial movement, which is flexible andconsists of the so-called sylphon bellows. It is understood that this equivalent might also be used for the piston valve 39 on the diaphragm 63 and would be described as a diaphragm.

The fuel suction apparatus which supplies the engine E with fuel is the intake manifold M, the carburetor C and the pump P. These, when the engine E` operates, produce suction (reduced pressure) within the lines l1 and 19. Asis known the engine E drives its own pistons to produce suction in manifold M and drives the pump P to produce suction at the pump inlet.

It will be seen that the fuel-line from the tank to the engine cylinders constitutes the pipe l5, l1, the device A, the pump P, the carburetor C and the manifold M. This line has liquid fuel in it in the parts l5, l1, P and a part of the carburetor C and has gaseous fuel in it in part of the carburetor C' and the manifold M. Generically speaking, reduced pressure or suction is obtained either from the pump P or the manifold M for the purpose of closing the bleeder valve in the device A which is located above the pump P and the tank, the tank being also located above the pump.

In View of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changesl could be made in the above constructions without departing from the. scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

l. Safety apparatus comprising a body located at a higher elevation and having a liquid inlet connection with a tank at a lower elevation, a liquid outlet connection to fuel suction apparatus including an intake manifold and a pump, said pump also being at a lower elevation and below the tank, a bleeder valve at the higher elevation biased to an open position to communicate air to the connection with the tank, and

`means responsive t suction of said fuel suction apparatus adapted to close said valve when the suction apparatus operates.

2. Safety apparatus comprising a body located at an elevation and having a liquid inlet connection with a tank at a lower elevation, a liquid outlet connection to fuel suction apparatus including an intake manifold and a pump, said pump also being at a lower elevation and below the tank, a bleeder valve in said body biased to an open position to communicate air to the connection with the tank, and means responsive to suction of said fuel suction apparatus adapted to close said valve when the suction apparatus operates comprising a flexible diaphragm connected to the valve to move it against its bias in response to saidl suction.

3. Safety apparatus comprising 'a body having a liquid inlet connection with a tank at a lower elevation, a liquid outlet connection to an engine having a suction manifold and a pumpalso at a lower elevation, a bleeder valve normally biased open and adapted when onen to communicate air to at least the connection with the tank, and diaphragm means responsive to suction in the manifold adapted to close said valve.

4. Safety apparatus comprising a body located at an elevation and having a liquid inlet connection with a tank at a lower elevation, a liquid outlet connection to the pump of an automotive engine which pump is also at a lower elevation and below the tank, a bleeder valve in said body normally biased open and when open communicating air to the connection with the tank, and means responsive to suction from the pump for closing said valve.

5. Safety apparatus comprising a body having a liquid inlet connection with a tank at a lower elevation, a liquid outlet connection to an engine having a pump also at a lower elevation and below the tank, a bleeder valve normally biased open and adapted when open to communicate air to the connection with the tank, and means responsive to suction from the pump for closing said valve and comprising a movable diaphragm.

6. Safety apparatus comprising a body having a liquid inlet connection with a tank at a lower elevation, a liquid outlet connection to the pump of an engine said pump being also at a lower elevation, a bleeder valve normally biased open and adapted when open to communicate air to the connection with the tank, and means responsive to suction from the pump for closing said valve and comprising a movable valve for opening communication between the inlet and outlet connections in response to pump suction.

'7. Safety apparatus comprising a body having a liquid inlet connection with a tank at a lower elevation, a liquid outlet connection to suction apparatus including an intake manifold and a pump, said pump also being at a lower elevation and below the tank, a bleeder valve adapted when open to communicate air to the connection with the tank, means responsive to suction adapted to close said valve when the suction apparatus operates, and a liquid valve controlling uid flow through the connection to the suction apparatus, said valve being normally biased shut but drawn open under suction conditions when the air valve is closed.

8. Safety apparatus comprising a body having a liquid inlet connection with a tank at a lower elevation, a liquid outlet connection to suction apparatus also at a lower elevation, a bleeder valve adapted when open to communicate air to the connection with the tank, biasing means to close said valve, and a liquid valve controlling fluid flow through the body, said valve being normally biased shut but adapted to be drawn open under suction conditions, the means for opening the air valve comprising said liquid valve when the latter is in closed position.

9. Safety apparatus comprising a body having a liquid inlet connection with a tank at a lower elevation, a liquid outlet suction connection to suction apparatus also at a lower elevation, a bleeder valve adapted when open to communicate air to the connection with the tank, means responsive to suction of the suction apparatus in said suction connection adapted to close said valve when the suction apparatus operates, and a liquid valve controlling uid flow through the body, said liquid valve being normally biased shut but adapted to be drawn open under suction conditions in said suction connection and when the air valve is closed, the means for closing the air valve comprising a diaphragm connected to the exposed to suction pressure of the pump for o-pening, said control valve when open connecting the inlet and the outlet, and a bleeder valve connected with and opened by said control valve when the latter is biased to closed position said bleeder valve bleeding air to the inlet connection.

11. Safety apparatus comprising a body having a liquid inlet-connection with a tank at a lower elevation, a liquid outlet connection to a pump at a lower elevation, a piston valve, means normally biasing said piston valve to a closed position upon non-operation of the pump, and exposed to suction pressure of the pump to be l ,tween a fuel tank and the fuel connection of an placed in open position, said valve when open connecting the inlet and the outlet, an air relief valve for the inlet connection opened by said piston valve when the latter is biased to closed position, and means biasing the air relief valve to a closed position against the bias of the piston valve. i

12. Safety apparatus comprising a body having an inlet connection with a lower supply tank and an outlet suction connection with suction means, an air relief valve for admitting air when open to the inlet connection, means normally biasing said valve to open position, a diaphragm movable therewith, and a suction conn'ection arranged on the side of the diaphragm to effect opposition to said bias to close theair relief valve when said suction means is operative.

13. Safety apparatus comprising a body having an inlet connection with a lower supply tank and an outlet suction connection with an engine operated pump, an air relief valve for admitting air when open to said connections, means normally biasing said valve to open position, a diaphragm movable therewith, an engine intake manifold and a suction connection thereto arranged on the side of the diaphragm to effect opposition to said bias to close the air` relief valve when said pump isoperated, said manifoldbeing operative as part of the engine which operates said pump.

14. Safety apparatus comprising a body having an inlet connection with a lower supply tank and an outlet suction connection witha pump, an air relief valve for admitting air when open to said supply tank connection, means normally biasing said valve to open position, a diaphragm movable therewith, anda suction connection arranged on the side of the diaphragm toeffect opposition to said bias to close the air relief valve when said pump is operative, said suction connection comprising a communication with said outlet suction connection. j

l5. Safety apparatus comprising a body having an outlet suction connection with a pump at a lower elevation, an inlet connection with a supply tank at a lower elevation but above the pump, movable means having an area exposed to suction in said outlet suction connection, an air relief valve adapted when open to admit air to the inlet connection and operative to be opened by said movable means, said outlet suction connections having 'a connection with said movable means.

l16. Safety apparatus for use in a fuel-line beautomotive engine, to make said line anti-Siphoning, said tank holding a fuel supply above saidV connection, comprising a part in said line'at an elevation above the tank and the connection, a bleeder valve at said elevated part of the line, means biasingrsaid bleeder valve to open position for bleeding air into the line, and suction-responsive means connected with said bleeder valve responsive to engine suction to close the bleeder valve and responsive'to cessation of engine suction to open the bleeder valve.

'117. Safety apparatus for use in a fuel-line between a fuel tank and the fuel connection of an automotive engine, to make said line anti-stphoning, said tank holding a fuel supply above said connection, said engine havingr fuel supply appurtenances operative when the engine is op erative to produce suction, comprising'a part in said line at an elevation above the tank and the connection, a bleeder valve at said elevated part, means normally lbiasing said bleeder valve to open position for bleeding air into the line, pressure-responsive means connected with said bleeder valve and responsive to said suction to close the valve against said bias.

18. Safety apparatus for use in a fuel-line between a fuel tank and the cylinder block of an automotive engine, said fuel-line including an engine manifold providing suction, and a pump providing suction, 'said-tank being elevated with respect to the pump, means for making said line anti-siphoning with respect to said elevated tank comprising a device in the fuel-line, a bleeder valve in said device at an elevation above the tank and said pump, meansbiasing said bleeder valve to` open position for bleeding air into the line, a movable member mechanically connected with said bleeder valve and being in a compartment having a connection with a suction portion of said fuel-line whereby suction in said fuel-line actuates the movable member to close said bleeder valve.

ORREN E. ZODER. 

